RhI‐Catalyzed Benzo/[7+1] Cycloaddition of Cyclopropyl‐Benzocyclobutenes and CO by Merging Thermal and Metal‐Catalyzed CC Bond Cleavages

Abstract A Rh‐catalyzed benzo/[7+1] cycloaddition of cyclopropyl‐benzocyclobutenes (CP‐BCBs) and CO to benzocyclooctenones has been developed. In this reaction, CP‐BCB acts as a benzo/7‐C synthon and the reaction involves two CC bond cleavages: a thermal electrocyclic ring‐opening of the four‐membered ring in CP‐BCB and a Rh‐catalyzed CC cleavage of the cyclopropane ring.